Connecting plug



Sept. 20, 1949. J. M. ROGIE CONNECTING PLUG Filed Aug. 29, 1945 W/ a m0 W WM J w W l 7 A k AT TORNE Y Patented Sept. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONNECTING PLUG Application August 29, 1945, Serial No. 613,332

2 Claims.

This invention relates in general to connecting plugs and more particularly to such a plug particularly adapted for use with hearing aid sets or similar devices.

In hearing aid sets it is highly desirable to make the apparatus as small as is compatible with satisfactory operation in service. This is particularly true with the cord which connects the amplifier set with the receiver positioned in the ear of the user. To make this cord as inconspicuous as possible, its size is decreased to such an extent that its useful life is considerably less than that of the cord which connects the amplifier set with the operating batteries. It is therefore desirable that the receiver cord be so arranged that it may be easily replaced by the user wihout requiring replacement of the battery cord. It is further desirable that both battery and receiver cords be connected to the amplifier set at the same time and by a single operation, rather than by the individual operation of independent plugs for the respective cords.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a connecting plug particularly adapted for hearing aid sets which is extremely small in size, which at the same time provides satisfactory operation under service conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a plug which permits easy replacement by the user of either cord when it becomes worn or otherwise faulty.

To accomplish these objects there is provided in accordance with the features of the invention a composite plug so arranged that the cords may be connected to separate plug members which nest together in such a way that they may be operated as a single unit to make the desired connections. In accordance with another feature of the invention the two cords enter their respective plug members at opposite sides and in a direction perpendicular to the line of travel of the plug as it is inserted in the amplifier set.

The invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view in partial outline showing the connecting plug of the invention inserted in an amplifier set;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the connecting plug in operative position with the cooperating contact members which are mounted within the set;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane 33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction 01 the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale with the respective plug members separated and positioned at an angle to show the manner in which they are mounted together to form a composite plug capable of being inserted or withdrawn as a single unit.

Referring to the drawing, the casing 5 of the amplifier set is arranged to house the various elements of the amplifier and is provided with spring clips 66 to facilitate securing it in a desired position. Mounted within the casing at its lower end is a contact block as shown in Fig. 2, comprising an insulating support I in which three contact members 88 are mounted in one plane and a pair, of contact members 9-9 is mounted in a parallel plane. These contact members are adapted to be engaged by correspond ing contact members of the connecting plug which in the lower end of the casing.

The composite connecting plug comprises a battery plug member II and a receiver plug member l2 which are arranged to interlock or nest together. The battery plug member comprises an outer member l3 and an inner member l4 which are fixedly secured together by means of rivets l5-I5. These members are accurately mold-ed of a suitable insulating material and are provided with offset portions as shown at IE to insure accurate alignment of the parts before riveting. The upper member i3 is provided with suitable slots l1l'l, in each of which is mounted a curved or arched contact spring [8 adapted to engage one of the fixed contact members 8. These slots which have a depth somewhat greater than the combined thickness of contacts 8 and I8 open into a chamber I9 as shown in Fig. 3 into which the battery cord 20 extends through a suitable opening 2| in the side wall. The bared ends of conductors 22 are looped around the ends of the springs l8 and securely soldered thereto, thus insuring a permanent low resistance connection. As shown in Fig. 4. a rectangular depression or chamber 23 is provided in the member M for purposes to be explained hereinafter.

The receiver plug member l2 likewise comprises a pair of accurately molded parts of insulating material which are fixedly secured together by means of rivets 2424. The outer member 25 is provided with a pair of slots 26-26 adapted to receive arched contact springs similar to springs I 8 and to which are soldered the respective conductors of receiver cord 21. A suitable slot 28 also is provided to receive the inner end of the cord 21. A rectangular projection 29 is accurately molded to nest in the chamber 23 of the battery plug member but to be easily separable therefrom. 7

When the receiver plug member and battery operated in service. However, when it becomes necessary to replace either cord it can be done without iifiterieringviwfith then'th'er 66rd in emaning thee'xpense of supplyin botheor'dsarfd their respective plug members. are permanently soldered to the plug contact springs, all contact trouble that mightlotherwise be experienced from the plug connections is eliminated. Also, by soldering the wires direb't ly to Since the conductors l 7 against one side wall of the slot and the mid-portion of said spring bears against the opposite side wall of the slot, and flexible cords extending into saidcasings and having their conductors connected to said contact springs, one of said plug members having a projection on a side wall thereof and the other having a corresponding zdharfibertifito whi-chesaid'ipi ojction nests, said -'dontact springs being#held in operative position 0 by the securing together of the insulating amembers.

.,2 ;.A iconnecting plug comprising a pair of easily separable plug members arranged to cooperate ewlith:- 'eaeh otherztof form a unit plug assembly,

the contact springs, it is possible' toidecreas the -"1"=5'- fi l sk each consisting of a sin arched size of the plug members to aln'arked'eirtent'bver that which would be possibletfif thidendnctors were not so secured. Furthermore, due to the curved or arched shape of the contact spi'ings i nembr -eiitlosd' in each of said plug members andmonnecting cords having their conductors soldered'theretojeach of said plug members coma; pair of molded parts of insulating mate- Within their respegtive Slots, Sliding cgntacts 20 rial rivetedtogether to'form an integral member mating a 'desired ctintactFpres'sure are-obtained fw-lien'theplug is' oonn'ectd'tothe set. Due to the ffactfthat -the"respectivepords are brught into 'thefplug members through sw'ableopeningsin user to withdrawthe plugbypu lling crim -"cards "With'afresultmg'possible damage to t-hep ord fcon jaecti'o'ns p Alsoiwiththetcords eXtendingputof V "'the sides of'the'plugithe'yare 'dressed intlieright lfdirection "to lead "directly if to the .receiver and -30 fbattery elements respectively, thus "preventing 'ztwi'st'irig ortki'fiki'rig "of the cords where" they *exitlendcutsidethe plu 11.; A Iconnectin'g "pin comprising ia pa r "or 535 trimmer leas'ilyc'separable'iplug members arranged s1 eby operate 'ix/itneach'othrto' form a rent -61 fsaicljplugmembers cem- San-neg me brs securedtoand having SIOtSwmOIdGd? therei-nwto receivetsaid ccm'itactesprings and cords,vthe conta-c prings nbeingr hel d in :0 per ativezposition" by thewrivetingrof the molded parts, one of said plugro'nembersrhavr 2-ingaarproj'ection onz a isideewallzthereofsandi the rather: having a:correspondingichanrbereinto which asaidi'project'ion? nests;

JAM'ES MlROGIEJ ?REFERENCES GITED "fxlepf "this patent: f v

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